Stop Being so Efficient and Lose Weight!

Before you read any further, there are some things I need to tell you....

This is NOT a miracle cure. I am not a doctor, nor do I look anything like a super-model. I have however tried all of the exercise trends and fads, including aerobics, step and even tried joining a gym. I have consistently stuck with...well, with absolutely nothing.

What I have come to realize is that one of the main reasons that our society as a whole has become overweight is that we have become too EFFICIENT.

The benefits of performing the simplest of tasks and activities have been lost to us. When I used to set my table for dinner, I would take out four plates. I would then take out four bowls, and place them on top of the plates. Next came the knives, forks and spoons, which were also placed on top of the plates. Why? I wanted to make one trip to the table. I wanted to be efficient!

Efficiency...it's human nature. What would happen if instead, I made two or three trips to the table? I'd burn off a couple of extra calories. That's what would happen.

Like I said, this is not a miracle cure, but little by little if you follow some of the things I've outlined in this article, you will burn a few more calories each day. This seems too simple. Is there a catch? Yes, you will lose a little time here and there. But the great thing is this is time you really can fit into your schedule, because it only costs you a minute or two each time you do something. I am guessing that you won't even notice it.

At first, this will be HARD. Trying to unlearn something, is much harder than trying to learn it, especially since efficiency seems like such a worthy goal. Initially, it is something you will have to consciously think about each time that you do it. But trust me, as you start practicing inefficiency, it will become second nature.

As a side note, I am not recommending you practice inefficiency while at work...as my boss would surely have my head on a platter!

So, where do you start? Try changing your habits in the following activities. As you begin working on these, I'm sure you'll see other areas in your life where you can apply this same logic.

Drop that Remote! As you first start on the road to inefficiency, I certainly would not recommend you try to do something as archaic as actually getting up and changing the channel yourself. However, instead of leaving the remote on the end table, try leaving it on top of the television. This way, once you've gotten yourself comfortable on your couch, you'll then remember that the remote is on the TV, and have to walk over to get it. (I do advise that being a couch potato doesn't help either....but TV is a fact of life that won't go away, so we must build it into the equation.)

Scrub that Floor! Throw away that mop! Get down on your hands and knees like in the good old days. Not only will your floor be cleaner, but you'll definitely work off some calories.

Don't be a Basket-Case! Speaking of the good old days, Mrs. Ingalls was always slim, wasn't she? Now, I'm certainly not suggesting you wash your clothes by hand the way she did in that little house on the prarie, but when you take your clothes out of the dryer, make several trips. Take pants out first, and neatly fold them into the basket. Walk around the house placing them in the appropriate closets, dressers or drawers. Next do the shirts, etc. Resist the temptation to fill the basket according to the room the item needs to be taken to! If it helps, buy a smaller basket to help your efforts.

Drop that tray! Instead of taking the silverware tray out of the dishwasher, take the pieces out, in sets of three or four. A couple spoons, a couple forks, and so on. And for larger items like plates and bowls, try to do one at a time. (If you just can't stand the total inefficiency of it all, start with a couple, and gradually work your way down.) The bending motion is sure to help burn extra calories. And here, I will go one step further and suggest that on light days, you can actually wash your dishes in the sink.

Skip the Car Wash! Use those muscles, don't be afraid to sweat a little and wash your car yourself. This will also help you save a little cash to buy some new clothes as you start to feel the effects of inefficiency.

Mow that Lawn! Instead of paying the kid down the street, mow that lawn all by yourself. Depending on your locale, this may be a seasonal task, so simply replace "Mow that Lawn" with "Shovel that Drive" and you're all set. (Please note: go back three spaces for use of a snow blower or ride-on lawn mower.)

Half Full! Whether it's half full or half empty, take the garbage out twice as often. Buying smaller bags may make this easier.

Sneaker Time! Instead of leaving out-going mail in your mailbox for your mail carrier to pickup along their route, take a walk down to a mailbox. As you get better at this one, seek out further and further mailboxes, or even the post office. Use this as a chance to explore your neighborhood.

Paper or Plastic! I don't care what the grocery store clerk packs your groceries in, when you bring them from your car, don't overload your arms. How many times have I struggled with four or five heavy bags, just to keep from having to come back out to the car? Too many to count. Make several trips to the car. If you can get yourself to do it, try carrying one bag at a time. Here too, you can start out with a couple of bags and work down to one.

By now, I'm sure you're starting to see a pattern. Carry smaller loads, and make more trips. The more you perform these simple, repetitive tasks, the better off you will be. These acts of inefficiency will definitely not make up for burgers and fries or chocolate mousse. What they will do, is allow you to add a little exercise into your normal routine, without changing your clothes, or buying expensive tapes or equipment. Remember that you will invest nothing into this, and you will lose nothing if you don't succeed. If however you do succeed, you may lose a little weight. So why not give inefficiency a shot?